Texting Anxiety in Covid-19 Pandemic
Hello everyone.
Hellooooo everyoneee.
Could you find the difference? Yes exactly, the voice tone is different. Then how will you interpret those two expressions when it comes to the text popping up on your mobile phone?
Well, for me the “Hello everyone” sounds so-so and for some condition it sounds icy. But for the ”Hellooooo everyoneee” sounds happy, cheerful, it may look more positive vibes by adding some rainbow emojis in the end of the text.
But actually getting hello from someone has been a good thing, right?
Yes! So, hello everyone!
Well, as we know, many people are used to start their day by opening a mobile phone, checking on the texting application is kind of a morning routine. Especially during this Covid-19 pandemic.
Since coronavirus hit this world last year, every offline activities starts to get limited. Work from home. Many activities are replaced via online. School, office, organization, community, any other meeting must be held online. Gadget becomes a primary need. Many people have spent much time on messenger application during this pandemic. A study said that WhatsApp is the most popular messenger application in the world, getting 51% increase usage in the late phase of this pandemic. That’s such a large number. Among that large number, have you ever guessed the largest feeling of people while texting?
Happy, yes. In case you get a message from your beloved one. Excited, yes. In case you get a message you really have been waiting for, but how if it comes the opposite? Sending a message since 15 minutes passed, no reply. 30 minutes passed, no reply. An hour passed, no reply. A day passed, no reply. For some people, it doesn't matter. But for others, it could become anxiety till depression. Yes, texting anxiety is real, and that could be a more serious matter. Especially during this Covid-19 pandemic.
I actually didn't realize that texting anxiety exists. I just found out about that this year, a couple of months after I had days getting texting anxiety.
Last year was my first ever experience joining an organization in my campus. I was eager to start my different campus life even after the fact came that Covid-19 made every member stay at home. Then finally came the day for starting to organize big events. Many group chats were created. We need to communicate dan coordinate through social media. I had full online meeting for about six months straight. I had at least a meeting at night. The academic college affairs and gossip gang have not been counted yet.
Since the burden of responsibility was getting bigger day by day, there were days when I was too impatience to wait for people's responses on group chat, I was scared of being not responsible by skipping an hour not to open WhatsApp. I started to get used to making assumptions and worry about other people’s short typing as if they are angry at me, or even maybe they hate me! I was stressed out and it turned to be anxiety. I got so anxious just to read someone’s text on my own mobile phone. I thought that was okay since many friends were on the same phase as me. But that was wrong. Thinking that was okay was wrong. I started to realize how Covid-19 pandemic affected my health.
Getting used to skip breakfast, sleep late till I have no sleep for the whole night. Feeling scared about the future, suicidal thoughts happened.
Gladly, at that time I realized I should stop texting anxiety before all of my worst thoughts would happen. I started to try any method to keep sane and responsible at the same time. I started to change my bad habit during the pandemic. So I stopped having meal while being online on any social media. Slowly I started to normalize not to open WhatsApp every hour. Since having online meetings without any friends directly by my side was quite lonely sometimes, I calmed myself down by listening to my favorite songs while preparing myself to get ready to open any chat on WhatsApp.
Is that easy to get rid of texting anxiety?
Yes, in my case. But if the anxiety gets worse, it may take more effort. Cause texting anxiety may lead to anxiety disorder or any worse mental illness.
So in life, especially in this Covid-19 pandemic when many activities are conducted online, don't forget to save yourself. Be aware of any stress that happens to your mental health. A study at University of Wisconsin shows 43% American death doesn't cause stress itself, but due to negative response toward stress. And for you who don't realize how bad mental illness could be, the National Mental Health Association of America stated that there is no cure for mental illness, the best help for mental illness is effective treatments.
For you who have experienced texting anxiety too, deal with it. It’s okay to get stress, but confront it, don't escape. Instead of getting yourself tired while making assumptions of other people’s feelings, confirm what happened, ask if he/she is angry if it is needed. In case your anxiety isn't getting better, go to professional help. People are designed to be able to adapt. So, be resilient, I’m sure you can!
Then for you people who have no problem related to someone’s message typing, be aware that texting anxiety is real, that’s not a joke. Know your position, the online conversation vibes, and the person you send a message. Cause since we are so difficult to guess someone’s mental state, especially in this Covid-19 pandemic when you cannot always look at someone’s face and meet in person easily, keep being careful with what you say, what you type.
So everyone, in this Covid-19 pandemic, stay healthy both physically and mentally. Let's be smart to control ourselves while using smartphone. Texting anxiety is real, it may become serious matter. Being online sufficiently. Humanize humans even just simply while texting someone.
Thank you.
